coping with a child with a phobia
My daughter has a fear of balloons. To the point where going to children's parties is becoming a very stressful past time. On replying to an invitation I explain to parents that she has this phobia, and the usual reaction is a laugh from them and even if they say balloons won't be present, they usually are. This usually means that we have to leave the party as my daughter starts shaking, sweating and acting irrationally. I know we can't expect every person to remove balloons from their party just because of my daughter, but it is turning a normally happy and well adjusted child into a nervous reck. To the best of my knowledge she developed this phobia after a birthday party when larger children were bursting balloons in the faces of the younger children. If any one can help me help my daughter overcome her fear I would be so grateful.
Re: coping with a child with a phobia
[I guess that our concern was that we would be met with the same reaction that we receive from parents; laughter or told she'll grow out of it. Or be accused of wasting their time as so many other people experience a phobia to some degree. I studied psychology at university and spent some time studying phobia treatments, from what I remember I felt that the various treatments weren't suitable for a child so young. I think that we are at the stage where we would be prepared to give anything a chance as seeing her reaction is absolutely heart breaking]
I can absolutely relate to this. Our daughter has blood phobia and I was completely dismissed by our GP, without any signposting to any other services, which has left us nowhere! If you can get some advice from websites and take that with you to the doctors - and make sure you and your husband go to the appointment together - hopefully they will take you more seriously. Good luck!
Re: coping with a child with a phobia
HI again Katie, you might not get a reponse from the OP on this one, as the thread is 13 years old.